Methods and compositions for rapidly detecting and quantifying viable legionella

ABSTRACT

Methods and compositions detect and quantify viable  Legionella  and other heterotrophic aerobic bacteria. Dip-slides that include an absorbent medium, growth promoting, and growth selective substances are useful in rapid detection and quantification of microcolonies of  Legionella . Most probable number method of detection and quantification of  Legionella  are disclosed.

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 11/376,516 filed Mar. 15, 2006 which claims priority to U.S. Ser. No. 60/033,071 filed Mar. 17, 2005.

BACKGROUND

Legionnaires' disease is a common name for one of the several illnesses caused by Legionella or Legionnaires' disease bacteria (LDB). Legionellosis is the condition of being infected by Legionella bacteria which can cause serious pneumonia. By far, most legionellosis is the result of exposure to contaminated building water systems. Each year, hundreds of thousands of people suffer from these infections and many tens of thousands die from legionellosis or its complications.

About forty eight Legionella species with 70 serogroups have been classified. L. pneumophila is responsible for about 80%-85% of Legionella infections and serogroups 1 and 6 are responsible for two-thirds of Legionella infections. Other isolates and serogroups also contribute to Legionella infections. There are 15 serogroups of L. pneumophila and about 70 serogroups in total for Legionella. Some of the Legionella isolates and serogroups that cause infection include L. longbeachae, L. bozemanii, L. micdadei, L. dumoffii, L. feeleii, L. wadsworthii, and L. anisa. Two other genera have been proposed: Fluoribacter blue-white fluorescing species such as L. bozemanii and Tatlockia for the species L. micdadei.

Legionella is widely present at low levels in the environment: in lakes, streams, and ponds. Water heaters, potable water distribution systems, decorative fountains, spa baths, swimming pools, humidifiers, evaporative cooling water towers, and warm, stagnant water provide ideal conditions for the growth and transmission of the biological hazard. Warm, stagnant water provides ideal conditions for growth. At about 30° C.-50° C. (75°-122° F.) the microorganism can multiply significantly and rapidly within its protozoan host, mostly the aquatic protozoa including different genera of amoeba. Rust (iron), scale, and the presence of other microorganisms can also promote conditions that result in rapid growth of Legionella.

Preventive measures include regular maintaining and cleaning of building water systems such as cooling towers and evaporative condensers to prevent growth of Legionella, which should typically include for example, twice-yearly cleaning and periodic use of chlorine or other effective disinfectants; maintaining domestic water heaters at 60° C. (140° F.); and avoidance of conditions that allow water to stagnate, as, for example, large water-storage tanks exposed to heat from sunlight that produce warm conditions favorable to high levels of Legionella and its protozoan host.

Detection of Legionella by a “Standard Method”, as mandated by many government-sponsored guidelines, codes of practice, standards, regulations or laws such as for example, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines, takes about 10 days, due to the long incubation time required to grow detectable Legionella. Thus, definitive confirmation of viable Legionella takes about ten days when using the Standard Method for detection. During this period, Legionella would have multiplied and spread in situ and at many instances the facilities may have to be shut down, resulting in production delays or limited occupation or evacuation and therefore, substantial economic losses. If detected earlier, and corrective measures taken earlier, economic loss may be minimized. According to OSHA specifications, a site may be considered potentially dangerously contaminated with Legionella bacteria if at least 10 colony forming units (CFU)/ml of Legionella are present in a drinking water distribution system or 100 CFU/ml in a cooling water system. In humidifiers, even 1 CFU/ml is considered potentially dangerous according to these OSHA guidelines.

For the Standard Method, buffered charcoal yeast extract (BCYE) medium is used to grow and culture Legionella. Several refinements and improvements resulted in the currently preferred BCYE medium that is enriched with α-ketoglutarate (Edelstein BCYE-α medium) with or without selective antimicrobial agents and indicator dyes. This medium can be supplemented with bovine serum albumin. For example, Legionella MWY selective supplement media from Oxoid Limited (United Kingdom; product code SR0118) includes per 100 ml of the medium, glycine 0.3 g; polymyxin B 5,000 IU; anisomycin 8.0 mg; vancomycin 100 μg; bromothymol blue 1.0 mg; and bromocresol purple 1.0 mg.

The Standard Method, as disclosed in the 1998 publication entitled “Water Quality Detection and Enumeration of Legionella”, by the International Organization for Standardization of Geneva, Switzerland, which is commonly referred to as the ISO 11731 standard, specifies use of the BCYE-α medium supplemented with ammonia-free glycine, vancomycin, polymyxin B, and cycloheximide (GVPC). In addition to these supplements, GVPC or BCYE contains ferric pyrophosphate, L-cysteine, and as indicated, α-ketoglutarate. This method is generally consistent with the original method developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and with standard methods used in Australia and Singapore.

A method that is substantially similar to these is used in France (AFNOR T90431). In Standard Methods, selectivity steps such as acid treatment and/or heat treatment are required to inhibit competition from faster growing bacteria that may overwhelm Legionella in the sample.

The Standard Method requires a protocol for obtaining the samples, shipping them back to an analytical laboratory, and utilizes a specialized medium. In the laboratory, the method requires spreading a small volume of sample (0.1 ml) onto the surface of buffered charcoal yeast extract agar supplemented with growth factors and antibiotics and then incubating the media and the sample at a constant temperature and humidity for up to 10 days. The long incubation time is necessary because Legionella bacteria grow slowly on this growth medium. Growth on the agar surface must be sufficient for a microbiologist to count the number of colony forming units (CFU) on the surface of the agar after about ten days of incubation. The CFU count is used to determine a viable cell concentration by computing the value per unit volume. For example, a plate with 10 CFUs from 0.1 ml of undiluted sample indicates a viable Legionella concentration of 100 CFU/ml sample.

Several factors, however, limit the use of the Standard Method culture. First, an analyst's experience with the Standard Method directly correlates with pathogen quantification. Second, the Standard Method requires ten days to yield confirmed results, owing to the slow growth of Legionella on agar plates and the required confirmation tests. Third, the preparation of the medium is error-prone and requires extensive quality control. Fourth, the pathogen is sensitive to factors that are difficult to control during sample transit. Fifth, the concentration steps used to achieve lower detection limits are inefficient and not always reliable e.g., less than 50% of viable Legionella is recovered during sample concentration processing. Sixth, the method requires growing the pathogen to an extent that produces many visible colonies each containing millions or billions of potentially infective disease-causing bacteria on the surface of the agar plates. This operation is dangerous and must be therefore performed by specially trained analysts in properly equipped laboratories to ensure the safety of the analysts and the surrounding community.

Other methods that are used, in addition to the above-described Standard Method, are molecular methods. Molecular methods are faster, less expensive, less subjective, more sensitive, and are capable of being performed in the field. However, they all suffer two critical limitations—none ofthe molecular methods, commercially available or otherwise, are able to 1) differentiate between viable, i.e., Legionella cells that can grow and be quantified under the conditions (media, incubation temperature) specified in the Standard Method, and the background of non-viable, or dead Legionella and 2) no quantitative determination of Legionella cells per unit volume (such as milliliters or liters) can be rendered from the data. Thus, in practice, only the above-mentioned Standard Method is able to detect the effect of disinfection of a contaminated or suspected site, because it is the only method that is capable of distinguishing between viable and non-viable Legionella bacteria and quantifying the hazard. Such differential and quantifiable detection is an essential requirement to confirm effective hazard control in engineered water systems. However, quantitative differentiation of viable Legionella is not a requirement in most clinical applications.

Molecular methods of Legionella detection include nucleic acid detection using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and serologic methods by antigen/antibody reactions detected with enzyme linked immuno-specific assays (ELISA) or differential fluorescent antibody direct cell counting. These molecular detection systems are useful in the clinical laboratory for diagnosis and sero-grouping Legionella. However, for environmental or industrial samples, nucleic acid or serological methods should be used only as a rapid screen to identify those samples that are completely free of any Legionella and not as a basis to detect or quantify viable and culturable Legionella.

Some of the distinguishing attributes of the Standard Method are: 1) differentiating viable from non-viable Legionella; 2) measuring all culturable species and serogroups of Legionella; 3) providing a viable Legionella count that can be expressed per unit volume or weight of sample; 4) global recognition of validity.

Some of the severe limitations of the Standard Method are: 1) a long incubation period of ten days is required before CFUs can be visually counted because Legionella grow slowly on solid media; 2) storing agar plates for ten days during incubation requires significant incubator space and humidity controlled conditions; 3) the systems, such as cooling water, domestic water, soils, and the like from which samples have been taken, usually change very significantly during the ten day incubation period; 4) the act of growing biological hazards taken from the environment into visible colonies comprised of millions or billions more infective viable bacteria is dangerous and must be performed therefore, in a laboratory with trained persons and special equipment.; and 5) shutting down production in a facility contaminated or suspected to be contaminated with Legionella, closing the facility or restricting access to it for 10 days while waiting for confirmation that the biological hazard has been controlled results in significant economic loss. There are many examples of highly significant economic losses from such facility closures or restrictions.

A rapid detection system for Legionella that can quantify viable Legionella in viability units that are equivalent to those used in the Standard Method and is also capable of being used safely in a field setting is therefore desirable.

SUMMARY

Methods and compositions described herein to detect and quantify viable and culturable Legionella include dip-slides that contain an absorbent medium for absorbing a liquid sample, e.g., water. The dip-slides and quantifying methods disclosed herein enable numerical estimation of viable and culturable Legionella within a few hours in the field, 1-2 days, or possibly longer depending on transit time if prepared dip-slides are shipped to laboratory for analysis, compared to the 10 days required by the Standard Method. Dip-slide based detection and quantification of Legionella (i) is a rapid procedure capable of being performed in the field either partially, then shipped back to laboratory for final analysis, or completely, if qualified personal are available in the field; (ii) does not require sophisticated laboratory equipment such as microscopes or special protective equipment; (iii) is safe and (iv) can be performed without highly trained specialists such as microbiologists in the field. Methods used to complete analysis of the dipslides in the field or in the lab include polymerase chain reaction assays, differential fluorescent antibody assays, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, latex agglutination assays and fluorescence in-situ hybridization assays.

Devices disclosed herein support the growth and detection of microcolony forming units (MFU) within hours, thereby enabling early detection and quantification. Earlier detection of the microcolonies by the methods and compositions disclosed herein, minimizes the Legionella contamination, reduces economic loss due to possible longer shutdown of work facilities, and enables faster decontamination procedures.

In another aspect, a “Most Probable Number” (MPN) method to quantitatively determine viable Legionella is used, which is an analytical method to rapidly (within hours) determine the presence and quantity of viable Legionella bacteria.

The term “viable” as used herein means capable of multiplying and capable of being cultured under the growth conditions provided herein or in a medium capable of supporting the growth of Legionella. Viable cells form colonies on solid growth medium. The term “culturable” means that the microorganism is capable of being grown in the growth medium provided herein or in a medium capable of supporting the growth of Legionella.

The term “dip-slide” or “paddle” or “dip-slide sampler” or “paddle sampler” or “dip-slide tester” means a device that includes a solid support, an absorbent medium, and growth promoting substances for microorganisms, assembled in a slide-like or a paddle-like configuration for easy handling and storage.

The term “Standard Method” as used herein refers to a standard Legionella detection and quantification method as published by the International Organization for Standardization of Geneva, Switzerland, which is commonly referred to as the ISO 1731 standard and substantially similar methods such as the French AFNOR method, the AU/NZ standard and the CDC method. The Standard Method requires about 10 days for incubation and quantification of Legionella.

The term “absorbent medium” refers to any solid, semi-solid, gel, polymer, matrix, membrane layer or structure that is capable of absorbing or adsorbing or receiving or holding a specified amount of biological sample.

The term “microcolony forming units” (MFU) refers to a small aggregate of bacterial cells (less than 0.01% the number of bacterial cells in a visible colony) that is rendered visible upon magnification of about 2 times to about 10 times. Size of the microcolonies range from a few microns in diameter to about 500 microns in diameter. A normal bacterial colony may be 0.5 mm up to 10 mm or 15 mm in diameter and generally contain millions or billions of bacteria. A microcolony is smaller and generally contains a few hundreds or thousands of bacteria. Microcolonies are observed directly or with the magnification generally available with a digital camera (2×-10×) on the surface of dip-slides after about 24 hrs to 44 hrs and with the aid of detection agents and imaging methods disclosed herein, detection of Legionella microcolonies are achieved in a few hours, e.g., about 6-8 hours.

The term “detection reagent” refers to any agent that is capable of selectively identifying Legionella.

A method of rapidly quantifying viable Legionella bacteria in a sample includes the steps of:

-   (a) providing a dip-slide comprising an absorbent medium, wherein     the absorbent medium includes nutrients for culturing Legionella and     at least one agent to selectively inhibit the growth of     non-Legionella microorganisms; -   (b) contacting the dip-slide with the sample for a predetermined     amount of time, wherein the dip-slide is calibrated to absorb a     predetermined amount of the sample; -   (c) incubating the dip-slide at a temperature in the range of 30° C.     to about 45° C. for a period sufficient to exhibit microcolonies,     periods which range from about 6 hours to about 48 hours, possibly     72 hours, but much less than 10 days; incubation is occurring during     transit if analysis is done in a laboratory; -   (d) detecting growth of Legionella bacteria on the dip-slide with a     detection reagent, wherein the detection agent selectively     identifies Legionella; and -   (e) quantifying the amount of viable Legionella bacteria in the     sample.

The absorbent medium comprises agarose in a range of about 0.5 wt % to about 10.0 wt %. The detection reagent is selected from the group consisting of an antibody, a mixture of antibodies, a probe, and combinations thereof

The antibody is specific for Legionella selected from a group that includes Legionella pneumophila serogroups 1-13, L. longbeachae, L. bozemanii, L. micdadei, L. dumofffii, L. feeleii, L. wadsworthii, and L. anisa and other species, subgroups, and serogroups of Legionella.

The probe is selected from a group that includes a dye, a color enhancing dye, a phase contrast dye, a labeled probe, a fluorescent probe, a calorimetric probe, a nucleic acid probe, and combinations thereof The detection of Legionella is by an ultraviolet light source.

The absorbent medium is calibrated to absorb about 0.3 ml of the sample in about 60 seconds. The detection reagent increases contrast for imaging the growth of Legionella. The detection reagent kills Legionella. The detection reagent includes an antimicrobial compound selected from a group that includes isothiazolone, glutaraldehyde, formaldehyde, ammonium quaternary compounds, dibromonnitrilopropionamide, beta-bromonitrostyrene, carbamate antimicrobials, tris-nitromethane antimicrobials, sodium benzoate, organic acids, ethanol, isopropanol, chlorhexidine gluconate, chlorhexidine diacetate, o-phenyl phenol and any suitable antimicrobial compound.

An agent to selectively inhibit the growth of non-Legionella microorganisms includes dyes, glycine, vancomycin, and polymyxin (DGVP) and/or an inorganic or an organic acid. An agent to selectively inhibit the growth of non-Legionella microorganisms includes cephalothin, colistin, vancomycin and cycloheximide (CCVC).

The growth of Legionella is detected as a microcolony, wherein the microcolony is about 10-500 microns in diameter. The growth of Legionella is detected as a microcolony under a magnification in the order of about 2× to about 10×.

A dip-slide detection system for rapidly quantifying viable Legionella bacteria in a sample includes:

-   (a) a dip-slide that includes an absorbent medium, wherein the     absorbent medium includes nutrients for culturing Legionella, at     least one agent to selectively inhibit the growth of non-Legionella     microorganisms, wherein the dip-slide is adapted to absorb a     predetermined amount of the sample; and -   (b) a detection reagent to quantify the amount of viable Legionella     bacteria in the sample, wherein the detection reagent inhibits the     growth of Legionella.

A dip-slide for rapidly quantifying viable Legionella bacteria in a sample, includes an absorbent medium, nutrients for Legionella bacteria, at least one agent to selectively inhibit the growth of non-Legionella microorganisms, wherein the dip-slide is adapted to absorb a predetermined amount of the sample.

A method of rapidly quantifying viable Legionella bacteria in a sample includes the steps of:

-   -   (a) providing a liquid growth medium for Legionella bacteria         containing growth preventing substances for non-Legionella         bacteria;     -   (b) performing serial dilutions of the sample, wherein the         serial dilutions are designed to result in a dilution that does         not contain a Legionella bacterium;     -   (c) incubating the serial dilutions at a temperature in the         range of 30° C. to about 45° C. for a period of about 6-8 hours         to about 44 hours;     -   (d) detecting the presence of Legionella growth in the serial         dilutions with a detection agent; and     -   (e) applying a most probable number (MPN) statistical method to         quantify the amount of viable Legionella bacteria present in the         sample.

There are 15 serogroups of L. pneumophila and about 70 serogroups in total for Legionella. Some of the Legionella isolates and serogroups that cause infection include L. longbeachae, L. bozemanii, L. micdadei, L. dumoffii, L. feeleii, L. wadsworthii, and L. anisa. Two other genera have been proposed: Fluoribacter blue-white fluorescing species such as L. bozemanii and Tatlockia for the species L. micdadei. Phylogenetically close relatives of Legionella can also be detected and quantified using the methods disclosed herein.

The disclosed methods provide practical and effective improvements over the Standard Method acid pretreatment; provides a way to use field samplers for the total heterotrophic aerobic bacterial count in addition to viable Legionella; provides a method to simplify and expedite obtaining analytical results and interpretations of data by shipping processed field samplers back to the lab and provides a way to entirely eliminate the variability which occurs in the Standard Method resulting from shipping water samples back to the laboratory before analysis can occur.

Various new and improved means were found to accomplish the acid pretreatment of samples in the field to inhibit non-Legionellae bacteria. The Standard Method requires use of an HCl buffer solution to acidify the sample. The purpose of the acid pretreatment step required in the Standard Method is to inhibit growth on the media of common aquatic bacteria found in water samples; such bacteria are much more sensitive to acid pH environments compared to the Legionellae which are tolerant to acidic pH. By means of this acid pretreatment, many rapidly growing bacteria such as Pseudomonas and Flavobacterium, for example, are completely inhibited from growing on BCYE therefore, allowing for growth of the slower growing, pH tolerant Legionella. In place of the HCl buffer, organic acids including ascorbic acid, glycine and cysteine provide equivalent results to the standard method acid pretreatment requirement. In the field it is preferable to use solid organic acids rather than HCl because the solid organic acids are safer and more convenient to handle. Additionally, since Legionella require cysteine for growth, use of the cysteine-HCl salt for acid pretreatment of the sample is especially useful. Absorbic acid with glycine and cysteine is suitable. The quantity of acid added to the sample can be from 0.01 g to 5 g.

A dip-slide without acid pretreatment is used to provide estimates of total heterotrophic bacteria. The total number of colonies can be counted or compared to charts of known colony concentrations to estimate the total aerobic heterotrophic bacteria. Also, by subtracting the number of microcolonies of Legionella growing on the dip-slide with acid pretreatment, from the number of microcolonies on the non-acid dip-slide, the heterotrophic bacteria excluding Legionella, can be determined.

An added benefit is that no dilution of the sample is needed. In the Standard Method, the sample is diluted 1 part sample to 1 part HCl buffer solution. In the method disclosed herein, just enough solid organic acid is added to achieve the necessary pH (˜2.2) without diluting the sample. This is preferred because sample dilution reduces the limit of sensitivity for the assay. For example, the limit of sensitivity for the assay is 10 CFU/ml but since the sample is diluted 1:2 in the Standard Method, the actual limit is 20CFU/ml. With the improved method, no dilution is necessary because the solid organic acid which is added also immediately dissolves into the sample.

The quantity of acid added to the sample can be from 0.01 g to 5 g.

Absorbic acid and two amino acids (glycine and cysteine) are suitable.

Surprisingly, the Legionella field sampler is useful to determine the total heterotrophic aerobic bacteria even more accurately than other field methods available today. It is useful to analyze viable Legionella and also the viable total heterotrophic aerobic bacterial count. The field method surprisingly allows determinations BOTH of these important parameters simultaneously for each water sample analyzed by the methods described.

Processing the field samples in the field using the acid pretreatment and then shipping them back to the laboratory for data archiving and interpretations provides the following benefits:

-   -   a) allows acid pretreatment without sample dilution;     -   b) utilizes the time in transit as incubation period for the         field samplers;     -   c) eliminates variation in the Standard Method due to transit         time of water samples during which microorganisms increase or         decrease depending upon unpredictable factors in the water         sample itself, and     -   d) provides a convenient, cost-effective and sustainable process         for interpreting and archiving the data from field samples         processed in the field.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings are provided to illustrate some of the embodiments of the disclosure. It is envisioned that alternate configurations of the embodiments of the present disclosure are within the scope of the disclosure.

FIG. 1 shows the surface of a Legionella dip-slide used for the rapid determination of viable cell concentrations in water samples. This slide was dipped for 60 seconds into about 1000 CFU/ml viable cell suspension (sterile 0.1M KCl) of Legionella pneumophila ATCC 33152. Weight increase after 60s dip was about 0.3 g. The volume of sample absorbed was therefore, about 0.3 ml. The dip-slide was incubated at 35° C. for about 45 hours. Digital photographs were printed with 0% color saturation, maximum contrast and by adjusting adjust brightness more (B) or less (A). Nearly actual size of the dip-slides is shown. Microcolony forming units (MFU) are shown as indicated by arrows.

FIG. 2 shows a paddle sampler (B) and container (A) as part of the dip-slide assembly.

FIG. 3 shows total heterotrophic aerobic bacterial growth and enumeration on dip-slides.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A rapid analytical field method and system are provided that utilizes a rapid dip-slide. The rapid dip-slide method to quantitatively determine viable Legionella is an analytical method to rapidly (within hours) determine the presence and quantity of viable Legionella bacteria. Viable Legionella can be enumerated the same day that the sample is taken. Unlike the standard method, the methods and devices disclosed herein are performed in the field at the site where the sample is taken either partially with analysis being completed in a laboratory or completely in the field. Results, which are statistically equivalent to those obtained with the Standard Method, are available the same day the sample is taken in the field and not shipped to a lab or within 1-2 days, or possibly longer but still much less than 10 days depending on transit time of dip-slides to be analyzed in a laboratory. Preparation of a dip-slides in the field removes the problems associated with shipping water samples, requirements for special reagents or instruments to interpret the results.

A dip-slide is prepared as follows. The standard BCYE media is prepared with modifications to make it suitable for use in the dip-slide format. The modifications of media are provided herein.

Preparation of absorbent medium involves the use of agarose or any suitable absorbent medium. Compared to the standard method, about 0.5-10% more agarose is used to prepare the absorbent medium for dip-slides used herein. For example, 1.3% agarose is calibrated to absorb about 0.3 ml or 0.3 g of the sample in about 60 seconds. Increasing the agarose concentration results in lower amount of the sample being absorbed. Depending on the requirements, 0.5 to about 10% agarose concentration can be used to calibrate the absorbent medium. For example, by adjusting the agarose concentration, about 0.1 ml of the sample is absorbed within a pre-determined amount of time, e.g., 1 min. The user can also be instructed to vary the dipping time instead of varying the concentration of agarose. For example, by keeping the concentration of agarose constant at 1.5%, the dip-slides can be dipped for a period of about 30 seconds to about 2.0 minutes depending on sample quality, bacterial count, and sample volume. In an experiment to quantify viable Legionella, a number of dip-slides can be dipped in the sample for a varying amount of time and compared. In an aspect, the concentration of agarose can range from about 0.2% to about 5.0%. Agarose concentration may also range from about 0.8% to about 1.6% and from about 1.0% to about 2.0%. The lowest possible concentration of agarose or any suitable polymer or gelling material that can be used on a dip-slide depends on the stability of the resulting polymerized absorbent medium and its ability to be retained in the dip-slide assembly during sampling handling steps. An absorbent medium capable of supporting bacterial growth in a dip-slide is within the scope of the disclosure.

During the preparation of absorbent medium, growth promoting substances are incorporated. Growth promoting substances for Legionella include the components of buffered charcoal yeast extract (BCYE) medium. The BCYE medium is enriched with α-ketoglutarate (Edelstein BCYE-α medium) and other growth promoting amino acids and metabolites can be incorporated to selectively enhance the growth of Legionella. A growth medium that supports the growth of Legionella is within the scope of this disclosure. The growth medium can be supplemented with one or more amino acids, micro and macro nutrients, and selective supplements. For example, Legionella MWY selective supplement media from Oxoid Limited (United Kingdom; product code SRO 118) includes per 100 ml of the medium, glycine 0.3 g; polymyxin B 5,000 IU; anisomycin 8.0 mg; vancomycin 100 μg; bromothymol blue 1.0 mg; and bromocresol purple 1.0 mg.

During the preparation of the absorbent medium, in an aspect, growth selective substances such as antibiotics can be incorporated. Growth selective substances, such as acid-releasing compounds and antibiotics to prevent growth of non-Legionella microorganisms are incorporated in the absorbent medium. These compounds can also be added after the absorbent medium is made.

Incorporation of calorimetric indicators such as a Legionella antigen system used in the molecular immunological antibody/antigen systems or the fluorescent antibody such as that used in the FISH system aid and enhance early detection and quantification of Legionella. Some of the indicators can be directly incorporated in the absorbent medium itself or can be added later during the detection step as a separate reagent. Legionella specific antibody reagent is added directly to the dip-slide surface followed by labeled detection reagents. For example, rabbit or mouse anti-Legionella polyclonal antibody conjugated to horse radish peroxidase enzyme is added to the surface of the dip-slides after slides with the sample were incubated for about 6-10 hours or to about 40 hours. After the antibodies are bound to the Legionella specific proteins, a chromogenic substrate such as TMB is added to detect the antigen-antibody binding. TMB is a chromogen that yields a blue color when oxidized with hydrogen peroxide (catalyzed by HRP) with major absorbances at 370 nm and 652 nm (Pierce Biotechnology, Inc., Rockford, Ill.). The color then changes to yellow with the addition of sulfuric or phosphoric acid with maximum absorbance at 450 nm. The antigen-antibody binding analysis described herein can also be performed on nylon or nitrocellulose membranes that contain the bacterial colonies. The membranes are used to lift off the bacterial colonies (see Example 4) and the procedures described herein are applicable to detect and quantify Legionella transferred to the membranes.

This same approach is highly useful when the antibodies are monoclonal antibodies to epitopes of stains known to be associated with severe outbreaks of legionellosis such as Mab2, from the CDC.

In an aspect, DNA probes can also be used to detect and quantify Legionella. For example fluorescently labeled DNA probes that are specific or complementary to a unique region of Legionella DNA are useful to practice fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). FISH can be practiced either directly on the surface of the dip-slides or on the membranes to which the colonies have been transferred. A cell permeabilizing and immobilization agent can be used to fix the bacterial microcolonies on to the agarose surface or on the membranes before the application of the fluorescent probes. The fluorescently labeled probes can be visualized under UV or other appropriate light source.

In an aspect, growth inhibiting substances such as antimicrobials, biocides, bactericidal, anti-bacterial agents are included in the detection reagent to simultaneously detect and inhibit further growth of Legionella, thereby minimizing contamination. For example, antimicrobial isothiazolone (Rohm and Haas, Philadelphia, Pa.) is a suitable growth inhibiting substance that can be added either during the detection phase or after the detection phase for the purpose of completely killing the microcolonies of pathogenic bacteria so that the device can be discarded safely.

The dip-slides disclosed herein can be used as follows: a water sample is obtained using aseptic technique. The dip-slide is removed from the cover and is immersed into the sample for about 30-60 seconds depending upon the dip-slide and the sample. The dip-slide is placed into the cover and is incubated for about four to forty hours at about 30° C. After about four hours to forty hours, a few hundred to thousands of cells are grown on the surface of the agar. This bacterial amount is far too small to see without the aid of sophisticated magnification equipment unless treated by the methods disclosed herein. These microcolonies, which contain less than about 0.01% the number of pathogens that would be required to count them in the Standard Method, are visualized without a microscope with a digital camera, and/or with the aid of detection reagent or a combination of these methods as disclosed herein. The microcolonies or microcolony forming units (MFU) are counted on the surface of the dip-slide and the data are stored as a digital image for future reference.

There are at least five types of developing agents that are suitable for detection and quantification of Legionella on dip-slides. A solution of the antibody used to detect Lp antigen of Legionella is suitable. Colorimetric detection system used in the urine antigen test may be used (Binax, Inc., Scarborough, Me.). In addition, an antigen-antibody system, where the antibody is capable of reacting with several species and serotypes of Legionella are used. A hand-held UV diode or mercury lamp, for example, is used to illuminate the surface of the dip-slide in order to visualize the microcolonies of Legionella. The reagent system used in the FISH (fluorescent in situ hybridization) system is suitable for detecting Legionella on the dip-slide disclosed herein (Vermicon AG, Munich, Germany). A simple biomass calorimetric system for visualizing the presence of microcolonies on the surface of the dip-slide, such as spraying the surface with ninhydrin to react with proteins or a vital stain like methylene blue to react with biomass is also suitable.

As described herein, the dip-slide method may also use a “replica blot”—by gently placing a sterile piece of filter paper or membrane on the dip-slide surface, and then carefully peeling it away and taking with it the cells that have multiplied into microcolonies on the dip-slide surface. The filter paper or the membrane replica is developed with the reagents disclosed herein. The replica blot may remove background interference from the contents of the media such as those that may exist in BCYE agar. In another aspect, this method may require a “replica slide”—by gently placing a sterile piece of glass with surface area dimensions equal to the surface area of the dip-slide onto the dip-slide for a period of about one second and then removing the slide. The biomass from microcolonies on the dip-slide will adhere to the glass surface. The biomass is then “heat fixed” by holding an open flame under the glass for about 1 sec. The heat-fixed proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids adherent to the slide can now be detected with the detection systems disclosed herein.

A membrane replica is not needed when the detection and quantification are performed on the surface of the dip-slide directly. For example, a user in the field, after a period of incubation of about 6-8 hours, dips the slide in a reagent solution that may have a suitable detection agent such as a Legionella specific antibody or a nucleic acid probe or a color-enhancing agent. The dip-slide is exposed to the reagent for a few minutes to a few hours. The reagent may also have a bactericidal agent that kills or inhibits the growth of Legionella. The dip-slide is then viewed either directly with the naked eye or with help of magnification equipment such as the digital or optical zoom of a digital camera. A digital image is captured at 2×-10× magnification and quantified by counting the microcolony forming units.

The number of detected microcolonies on the surface of the Legionella dip-slide is used to estimate the number of viable cells per ml of sample depending on how the agar is calibrated to absorb a pre-determined amount of sample. For example, if there appears 100 microcolony forming units (MFU) after 10 hours of incubation on the surface of a dip-slide that had an agar concentration of 1.3 wt % and was dipped for 60 seconds, then about 0.3 ml of the sample would have been absorbed and therefore the colony count per ml is about 333.

Legionella is grown directly on top of a membrane (e.g., nitrocellulose), wherein the membrane strip is placed on top of an agar layer for absorption of nutrients. The membrane strip is directly used for further detection as disclosed herein. Some of the detection reagents (e.g., TMB) are incorporated within the agarose itself for later detection.

The rapid-analytical Legionella detection system may also utilize a “most probable number” (MPN) method to quantitatively determine viable Legionella. This method is an analytical method to rapidly (within hours) determine the presence and quantity of viable Legionella bacteria. Viable Legionella can be enumerated the same day that the sample is taken. The MPN technique is a statistical method and has been used to enumerate viable bacteria (prokaryotes) in samples of water, air, food, and other substances. Briefly, MPN method involves the use of serial dilutions performed in replicates of 3 or 5 or 7. Tubes are filled with 9 mL of sterile medium and inoculated with either sediment slurry or directly with sediment using a 5-mL syringe. The ten-fold dilutions are done through three to six steps, sufficient that the last dilutions would probably not contain growing prokaryotes. The tubes showing positive growth by becoming turbid after an incubation are recorded and used to calculate the most probable number of viable cells in the original sample, according to a conventional statistical table based on the probability function.

No field MPN method has been devised for Legionella quantification. Most Probable Number (MPN) methods are used in food microbiology and sanitation applications. Conventional detection of Legionella by standard MPN methods make take several days due to the slow growth of Legionella. The methods disclosed herein enhance the speed with which MPN is useful for enumerating bacterial count within a few hours to about 2 days.

One example of the MPN-based detection method is as follows. Standard liquid media for Legionella is prepared as follows—5 g bovine serum albumin, fraction V; 10 g N-2-acetamido-2-amsinoethanesulfonic acid (ACES); 10 g yeast extract; 0.4 g L-cysteine-HCl; 0.25 g soluble ferric pyrophosphate were dissolved in 800 ml of distilled and the pH was adjusted to pH 6.9 with 1 N potassium hydroxide. The solution was filter sterilized and stored at 4° C. for up to six months, protecting from light exposure. A stock solution can me made that has up to 3× strength and diluted as needed later. Modifications of the standard media described herein include incorporation of growth accelerating substances such as more nutrient; incorporation of calorimetric indicators such as the Legionella antigen system or the fluorescent antibody indicators; and use of a detection system such as a developing reagent for the antigen or a handheld UV-diode illuminator to indicate presence of microscopic colonies.

An example of the MPN method includes the following steps—a water sample is obtained; the sample is inoculated in triplicates; the samples are serially diluted in triplicates. Four more dilutions are performed in triplicates. After about 4-8 hours a few hundred to thousands of cells would have grown in the positive tubes. Generally, this number is too low to result in a visible turbidity to the naked eye. However, by using detection and visualization agents disclosed herein, the few hundred to thousands of cells in positive tubes are visualized. As disclosed herein there are several types of detection agents that are suitable for visualizing Legionella. These include antibody reagents, calorimetric detection system, a hand-held UV diode lamp, FISH (fluorescent in situ hybridization) system, and a protein detection system such as ninhydrin or a vital stain like methylene blue to react with biomass.

This method may require syringe filtration. One cc of the sample from each tube is filtered through syringe tip filter. The filter paper is now developed with the reagents disclosed herein. The filtration step may remove background interference from the contents of the media.

The data is interpreted as follows—the pattern of positive tubes in the series is used to calculate the “most probable number” (MPN) of viable cells in the sample. The calculation is based on the probability function. MPN calculators are available and are known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The MPN value is substantially equivalent to the information reported from the Standard Method as CFU Legionella spp/ml.

Method and compositions disclosed herein detect several serogroups and isolates of Legionella including Legionella adelaidensis, Legionella anisa, Legionella beliardensis, Legionella birminghamensis, Legionella bozemanae, Legionella bozemanii, Legionella brunensis, Legionella busanensis, Legionella cherrii, Legionella pneumophila, Legionella pneumophila subsp. fraseri, Legionella pneumophila subsp. pascullei, Legionella pneumophila subsp. pneumophila, Legionella rowbothamii, Legionella taurinensis, Legionella worsleiensis, and Legionella nautarum.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that numerous changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

EXAMPLES

The following examples are for illustration only and do not in any way limit the scope of this disclosure.

Example 1

This example demonstrated that the methods and compositions disclosed herein to detect viable and culturable Legionella, improves by at least 80%, the time required to quantitatively determine viable Legionella in water samples by standard method.

DuPage River water was sampled in Naperville, Ill. To the river water sample, a quantityof Legionella pneumophila (ATCC 33152) was added aseptically. The inoculated river water was then mixed and allowed to equilibrate. Aliquots of the sample were placed onto the growth medium with final dilutions of 1:10, 1:100 and 1:1000 in sterile phosphate buffered saline. The experiment was replicated twice. Viable cells were determined by counting “Microcolony Forming Units” (MFU) and Colony Forming Units (the Standard Method). The MFU can also be counted by naked eye from digitally enlarged images (10× zoom). Microcolonies of Legionella pneumophila were enumerated after 42 hrs, 65 hrs and 93 hrs of incubation at 35° C. Colonies of Legionella pneumophila were enumerated by the Standard Method after 10 days of incubation at 35° C. Table 1 shows the data and the results of statistical analysis. The number of Microcolony Forming Units per milliliter of water sampled (MFU/ml) was not statistically different than the number of Colony Forming Units per milliliter of water sampled (CFU/ml) after 10 days as required by the Standard Method. Therefore, detection of MFU by the rapid method disclosed herein is an equivalent analytical method to the long and laborious Standard Method.

Table 1 shows the number of viable Legionella pneumophila in river water as determined by the rapid method disclosed herein compared to the 10 day count with the Standard Method. There was no statistically significant difference in the bacterial numbers at day 10 and the numbers from analyses performed at earlier times. These data show that the data obtained at 42 hours was equivalent to the data obtained after 10 days. This represents an 83% improvement in the time required to obtain the viable cell concentration of Legionella in river water. TABLE 1 Comparison of Legionella detection by a rapid method compared to the Standard Method results at 10 days incubation. MFU or MFU or Average CFU CFU MFU/ml or Time Counted Counted Ave SD CFU/ml SD/ml Trial 1 42 h  60 (MFU) 23 (MFU) 41.5 (MFU) 26.2 6.9E+05 4.4E+05 65.5 h  70 (MFU) 40 (MFU)   55 (MFU) 21.2 9.2E+05 3.5E+05 93 h  66 (MFU) 52 (MFU)   59 (MFU) 9.9 9.8E+05 1.6E+05 10 days  67 (CFU) 50 (CFU) 58.5 (CFU) 12.0 9.8E+05 2.0E+05 Trial 2 42 h 100 (MFU) 72 (MFU)   86 (MFU) 19.8 1.4E+06 3.3E+05 65.5 h 105 (MFU) 83 (MFU)   94 (MFU) 15.6 1.6E+06 2.6E+05 93 h 108 (MFU) 78 (MFU)   93 (MFU) 21.2 1.6E+06 3.5E+05 10 days 105 (CFU) 74 (CFU) 89.5 (CFU) 21.9 1.5E+06 3.7E+05 MFU—microcolony forming units; CFU—colony forming units observed in the Standard Method at Day 10 SD—Standard deviation

Compositions and methods disclosed herein enable detection of viable, culturable Legionella that is comparable to the Standard Method. Unlike the Standard Method, the rapid method disclosed herein enables detection within a few hours.

Example 2

This example demonstrates that the dip-slides and methods disclosed herein are useful in quantifying Legionella bacteria following a disinfection procedure. In an aspect, dip-slides for Legionella pneumophila were used to measure the effect of chlorine disinfection (Table 2, FIGS. 1A, B and 2). A BCYE/BCYE+DGVP dip-slide was weighed prior to the sample introduction. The dip-slide was dipped in the sample for about 60 seconds and the dip-slide was weighed again to insure about 0.3 g of the sample was adsorbed to the dip-slide. The sample-loaded dip-slide was incubated at 35° C. for about 45 hours. The dip-slides were taken out of the incubator and were photographed digitally.

If a water system, such as a drinking water distribution system or cooling water utility system, becomes contaminated with the Legionella hazard, then that system should be immediately disinfected. For example, the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) has published guidance for procedure to be followed in response to results from quantitative analysis obtained from the Standard Method for viable Legionella concentrations (measured as Colony Forming Units per milliliter, CFU/ml) in water samples. These guidelines indicate, for example, that if the concentration of viable Legionella in drinking water is greater than 10 CFU/ml, then procedures should be followed to disinfect the water. To determine the extent and efficiency of detection, the disinfected water sample needs to be analyzed for any remaining Legionella bacteria.

However in order to determine the extent of the disinfection, 10 days are required in the Standard Method to obtain quantitative results. In many cases, a facility must be evacuated and closed until results from the Standard Method are available in order to ensure that disinfection has been adequate and that the building is safe for occupants and users. In some countries such as in France, it is a legal requirement that the water system should remain unused and the facility evacuated until there is quantitative proof that the disinfection has been effective.

With the rapid dip-slide method disclosed herein, statistically equivalent data to the Standard Method can be obtained much faster (see Example 1,Table 1). The data in Table 2,FIGS. 1-2 show that effective disinfection was successfully observed, quantified and documented using the new Legionella dip-slides. These results provide quantitative assurance that the hazard (Legionella bacteria) has been controlled.

One hundred milliliter (ml) sample of water containing about 8-25 viable Legionella cells per ml was treated with a 0.17 mg/l free residual oxidant measured as Cl₂ with a calorimetric test using a HACH DR-890 hand-held calorimeter. Dip-slides were used to measure the viable Legionella concentration after 1, 5 and 10 min of contact with the chlorine disinfectant and compared to dip-slide results obtained from identically prepared (except no chlorine) untreated controls. TABLE 2 demonstrates that effective disinfection was observed with the new Legionella dip-slides. No Chlorine (Control) Chlorine* (Treatment) Contact Legionella Legionella Legionella Legionella Time pneumophila pneumophila pneumophila pneumophila **% (min) (Ave MFU/dip-slide) (Ave MFU/ml) Ave (MFU/dip-slide) (Ave MFU/ml) Disinfected 1 4 12 3 8 33 5 8 25 0 0 100 10 3 8 0 0 100 MFU = microcolony forming unit; dip-slides were calibrated to absorb 0.3 ml of sample in a 30 s “dip” at room temperature *Free residual oxidant concentration = 0.17 mg/l (ppm) as Cl2; Total residual oxidant concentration = 0.25 mg/l (ppm) as Cl2 **“% Disinfected” was calculated from MFU/ml measurements [(control − treatment)/control] × 100

Dip-slides and methods disclosed herein are used to detect and quantify Legionella from samples after a disinfection procedure to determine the efficiency of disinfection. Growth of Legionella may be influenced by the nature of the disinfection procedure.

Example 3

This example provides an illustration of a dip-slide and a dip-slide chamber in a dip-slide assembly for detection and quantification of Legionella.

Dip-slides illustrated in this example are also designated “paddle dip-slide samplers”. These paddle dip-slides and chambers were fabricated in the dimensions as follows. Plastic paddles were 6 cm in length, 2.75 cm width and 0.5 cm depth (FIG. 2B). On both sides of the paddle sampler, a 4.75 cm×2.25 cm rectangle reservoir of 1 mm depth was made to hold the growth media and the absorbent material. The paddle was fitted into a threaded screw cap 4 cm in diameter which fit onto a threaded clear plastic tube, 7.5 cm in length (FIG. 2A). The paddle (dip-slide) and the reservoir constitute a dip-slide assembly. The entire assembly was sterilized by autoclave. On one side of the paddle, sterile standard media Buffered Charcoal Yeast Extract (BCYE) agar was aseptically poured into the reservoir. On the other side, sterile BCYE plus antibiotics (as specified in the Standard Method) was aseptically poured into the reservoir and the side with the antibiotics was identified with a distinguishing visual mark. FIG. 2 shows an illustration of the rapid method Legionella dip-slide sampler.

Paddle testers or dip-slide samplers with agar medium for bacteria other than Legionella are available from a variety of commercial suppliers, such as, for example, from Biosan Laboratories, Inc. (Warren, Mich.). Based on the guidance and the specifications of the growth medium, the absorbent medium, and reagents disclosed herein, dip-slides or paddle-testers for Legionella can be constructed.

Other suitable dimensions for dip-slides include for example, in one aspect, about 2-10 cm in length, 1.0-4.0 cm width and 0.1-1.0 cm depth and about 5 -15 cm length, 2-10 cm width, and 1.0-2.0 cm depth. Accordingly, suitable reservoirs to the dip-slides disclosed herein can have varying dimensions. For example, in one aspect, the reservoirs are dimensioned to be about a 2.0-10.0 cm×1.0-4.0 cmrectangle reservoir of 1-5 mm depth made to hold the growth media and the absorbent material. Containers or tubes to fit the dip-slide along with the reservoirs can also have varying dimensions. For example, in one aspect, the containers can be of cylinder of about 5-12 cm in length and appropriate diameter.

The dip-slides, the reservoirs, and the containers can be made of any suitable material, including but not limited to plastic, polymer, acrylic, and neoprene. The paddles or the dip-slides can also be any suitable shape, e.g., rectangle, oval, circular, and square.

Example 4

This example illustrates steps to selectively identify microcolonies of Legionella on the Dip-slide Sampler using a labeled anti-Legionella antibody.

Bacterial microcolonies (less than 2 day growth) on the surface of the rapid method Legionella dip-slide sampler, as disclosed herein, were transferred to a nitrocellulose membrane (0.22 micrometer pore size for Western blotting, BioRad) by laying the membrane on the dip-slide for 1 minute. A substantial amount of the microcolonies were lifted and transferred to the membrane. The membrane was air dried for 20 minutes to fix the bacterial proteins to the membrane. The membrane was then soaked in 1% skim milk (Difco), 0.1% Tween 20 (Sigma) to block the remaining protein binding sites. The membrane was then cut in two, so that one half (Membrane “A”) represented the upper part of the dip-slide used for specific detection. The other half (Membrane “B”) was used for the control. The distribution of microcolonies (20 or so) was fairly uniform over the dip-slide.

Membrane A was transferred to a petri dish containing 3 ml of a 1/500 dilution of horseradish peroxidase labeled rabbit anti-Legionella (Accurate Chemical & Scientific Corporation, Westbury, N.Y.) in 1% skim milk, 0.1% Tween, in phosphate buffered saline (PBS). Membrane B (the control) was transferred to a similar dish containing rabbit anti-mouse IgG as a control. Membranes were gently agitated for 3 minutes then rinsed 5 times with PBS with 0.1% Tween. Five ml of TMB substrate chromogen for blotting was placed in a clean dish and the membranes were gently shaken for 5 minutes for color development. Development was stopped by a brief water rinse. Spots on the membrane where colonies had contacted the membrane appeared as distinct purple blue spots on membrane A (the anti-Legionella treatment). No spots were observed on the control membrane B which had been incubated with a control rabbit antibody. Spots were recorded using a digital camera and were counted for further analysis.

Various serogroups of Legionella can be identified by choosing appropriate sero group specific antibody. Mouse anti-Legionella pneumophila sero group 1 monoclonal antibody, (conjugated or unconjugated) can be obtained from BIODESIGN International (Saco, Maine). Custom-made antibodies can be obtained from a variety of manufacturers, including Strategic Diagnostics Inc., (Newark, Delaware). Serogroup specific or isolate specific antibodies or a mixture of antibodies can be used to detect a sample suspected of Legionella contamination. Polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies, either individually or in a mixture are capable of detecting various serogroups and isolates of Legionella that include L. pneumophila serogroups 1-13, L. longbeachae, L. bozemanii, L. micdadei, L. dumoffii, L. feeleii, L. wadsworthii, and L. anisa.

Example 5

Field Sampler For Viable Legionella Bacteria Shipped to a Laboratory

Required Materials

For each water sample location:

1. One sterile 100 ml vial w/sodium thiosulfate tablet;

2. Two sterile field sampler dip-slides;

3. Two authenticity labels sample with documentation;

4. HCl/KCl buffer made according to Standard Method specifications in dropper bottle; and

5. Safety equipment (safe glasses and gloves)

Field Sampler Labeling

1. For each field sampler, assign a tracking number and submit the sample submission spreadsheet with all water sample information.

2. Two field samplers are required per water sample location; one field sampler is used before and the other is used after acid treatment.

3. Affix completed label vertically (length-wise) onto the plastic dip-slide container.

Water Sample Collection and Field Sampler Processing

1. Collect 100 ml water sample in sterile vial, close securely, and invert to mix to completely dissolve sodium thiosulfate tablet (2-3 minutes);

2. After collecting water sample, immediately dip first dip-slide into the vial for 3 seconds, remove from water, and replace into original labeled canister;

3. Label this canister as non-acid treated by circling “N” on the label (detects total viable heterotrophic aerobic bacteria); and

4. Add required amount of pH adjust to water sample (1 ml to potable water, 2 ml to utility samples) while wearing safety goggles and gloves.

4. Securely close the vial, invert to mix, and wait exactly 5 minutes for acid incubation.

5. After 5 minutes, dip second field sampler into the acid treated sample for 3 seconds, remove from water, and replace into labeled canister (label canister as acid treated by circling “Y” on the label (detects viable Legionella).

6. Empty water sample from sterile vial and discard vial in trash.

7. Ship dip-slides to laboratory with appropriate packaging.

Interpretation of Results

Typically in well-managed potable water systems, the total viable heterotrophic aerobic bacterial concentration should be less than 1,000 CFU/ml and the viable Legionella bacteria concentration should be less than detectable (10 CFU/ml) by the methods disclosed. Typically in well-managed utility water systems (such as cooling water towers), the total viable heterotrophic aerobic bacterial concentration should be less than 10,000 CFU/ml and the viable Legionella concentration should be less than detectable (10 CFU/ml).

Publications Cited

The following are incorporated by reference to the extent they relate materials and methods disclosed herein.

Anonymous. 1998. “Water quality—detection and enumeration of Legionella”, ISO International Organisation for Standardisation” 11731:1998, Geneva, Switzerland.

Anonymous. 1998. “Waters—examination for Legionellae, ” AS/NZS 3896:1998. Standards Australia, North Sydney, NSW, Australia. 

1. A method of rapidly quantifying viable Legionella bacteria in a sample, the method comprising: (a) providing a dip-slide comprising an absorbent medium, wherein the absorbent medium comprises nutrients for culturing Legionella and at least one agent to selectively inhibit the growth of non-Legionella microorganisms; (b) contacting the dip-slide with the sample for a predetermined amount of time, wherein the dip-slide is calibrated to absorb a predetermined amount of the sample; (c) incubating the dip-slide at a temperature in the range of 30° C. to about 45° C. for a period sufficient to exhibit microcolonies. (d) detecting growth of Legionella bacteria as present in microcolonies on the dip-slide with a detection reagent, wherein the detection agent selectively identifies Legionella; and (e) quantifying the amount of viable Legionella bacteria in the sample.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the absorbent medium comprises agarose in a range of about 0.5 wt % to about 10.0 wt %.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the detection reagent is selected from the group consisting of an antibody, a mixture of antibodies, a probe, and combinations thereof.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the antibody is specific for Legionella selected from the group consisting of Legionella pneumophila serogroups 1-15, L. iongbeachae, L. bozemanii, L. micdadei, L. dumoffii, L. feeleii, L. wadsworthii, and L. anisa.
 5. The method of claim 3, wherein the probe is selected from the group consisting of a dye, a color enhancing dye, a phase contrast dye, a labeled probe, a fluorescent probe, a calorimetric probe, a nucleic acid probe, and combinations thereof.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the detection of Legionella is by an ultraviolet light source.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the absorbent medium is calibrated to absorb about 0.3 ml of the sample in about 60 seconds.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the detection reagent increases contrast for imaging the growth of Legionella.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the detection reagent kills Legionella.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the detection reagent comprises an antimicrobial compound.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the antimicrobial compound is selected from the group consisting of isothiazolone, glutaraldehyde, formaldehyde, ammonium quaternary compounds, dibromonitrilopropionamide, β-bromonitrostyrene, carbamate antimicrobials, tris-nitromethane antimicrobials, sodium benzoate, organic acids, ethanol, isopropanol, chlorhexidine gluconate, chlorhexidine diacetate, and o-phenyl phenol.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the agent to selectively inhibit the growth of non-Legionella microorganisms comprises dyes, glycine, vancomycin, and polymyxin (DGVP) and/or an inorganic or an organic acid.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the agent to selectively inhibit the growth of non-Legionella microorganisms comprises cephalothin, colistin, vancomycin and cycloheximide (CCVC).
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein the growth of Legionella is detected as a microcolony, wherein the microcolony is about 10-500 microns in diameter.
 15. The method of claim 1, wherein the growth of Legionella is detected as a microcolony under a magnification in the order of about 2×to about 1×.
 16. A dip-slide detection system for rapidly quantifying viable Legionella bacteria in a sample, the system comprising: (a) a dip-slide comprising an absorbent medium, wherein the absorbent medium comprises nutrients for culturing Legionella, at least one agent to selectively inhibit the growth of non-Legionella microorganisms, wherein the dip-slide is adapted to absorb a predetermined amount of the sample; and (b) a detection reagent to quantify the amount of viable Legionella bacteria in the sample, wherein the detection reagent inhibits the growth of Legionella.
 17. A dip-slide for rapidly quantifying viable Legionella bacteria in a sample, the slide comprising an absorbent medium, nutrients for Legionella bacteria, at least one agent to selectively inhibit the growth of non-Legionella microorganisms, and wherein the dip-slide is adapted to absorb a predetermined amount of the sample.
 18. The dip-slide of claim 17, wherein the absorbent medium comprises agarose in a concentration of about 0.5 wt % to about 10.0 wt %.
 19. The dip-slide of claim 17, wherein the dip-slide is adapted to absorb about 0.3 ml in about 60 seconds.
 20. A method of rapidly quantifying viable Legionella bacteria in a sample, the method comprising: (a) providing a liquid growth medium for Legionella bacteria containing growth preventing substances for non-Legionella bacteria; (b) performing serial dilutions of the sample, wherein the serial dilutions are designed to result in a dilution that does not contain a Legionella bacterium; (c) incubating the serial dilutions at a temperature in the range of 30° C. to about 45° C. for a period of about 6-8 hours to about 44 hours; (d) detecting the presence of Legionella growth in the serial dilutions with a detection agent; and (e) applying a most probable number (MPN) statistical method to quantify the amount of viable Legionella bacteria present in the sample.
 21. (canceled) 